The Colour of Nature

Why and how are there so many colours in the natural world? This practical workshop links Key Stage 3 biology and physics and encourages students to consider what colour is, the different ways colour is produced and how colour is an adaptation in the natural world.

Pupils explore the different properties of colours from a range of organisms and learn what these can tell us about how colour is produced. They then use scientific equipment to determine if specimens are coloured either by pigments or microscopic structures.

A Museum scientist challenges pupils to use a specimen and its colour as a source of inspiration for a real-world application and reveals the surprising applications of their own research.

Post-visit activity

Real World Science

This workshop is a collaborative development produced by the Real World Science Programme. This is a partnership between the Natural History Museum and 5 regional partners: The Oxford Museum of Natural History, The Manchester Museum, The Great North Museum: Hancock, Stoke-on-Trent Museums and Leeds Museums and Galleries.